false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171924285m/126860.jpg 126860 2 A.K. Dewdney takes readers on a theoretical world tour to answer the question: Did humans make up mathematics, or did mathematics make up everything, including humans? After all, mathematical formulas seem to perfectly govern the cosmos, and the ur-mathematician Pythagoras himself believed that mathematics makes up reality. Dewdney has taken it upon himself to examine this fundamental question, beginning his journey in Miletus, the ancient home of Pythagoras and other deep thinkers. There, he meets the fictional Dr. Petros Pygonopolis, the first of his guides through space and time in search of mathematical meaning in history. His journey continues with stops in the Arabian desert (for insight into ancient Islamic astronomy with Professor al-Flayli), Venice (where Maria Canzoni reveals the mysteries of atomic theory), and England (home of the "engines of thought" in the form of Alan Turing's mind machines, as explained by Sir John Brainard). Dewdney's style is accessible, his knowledge is thorough, and his sense of humor is refreshing, if a bit geeky. <I>A Mathematical Mystery Tour</I> is not a difficult read, although the ideas it attempts to clarify are quite abstract. The fictional tour guides at each port of call are helpful in humanizing the intimidating subject matter. <I>--Adam Fisher</I> 122169 1999 A Mathematical Mystery Tour: Discovering the Truth and Beauty of the Cosmos total:4|4:1|3:3| 4 13 8 1 126860 0471407348 9780471407348 4 1 3.25 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171924285m/126860.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/126860.A_Mathematical_Mystery_Tour_Discovering_the_Truth_and_Beauty_of_the_Cosmos 3 0 false Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon Jul 13 09:38:50 -0700 2009 Mon Jul 13 09:38:50 -0700 2009 126860 0471407348 9780471407348 4 1 3.25 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171924285m/126860.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/126860.A_Mathematical_Mystery_Tour_Discovering_the_Truth_and_Beauty_of_the_Cosmos 4 0 false Mon Sep 14 17:32:59 -0700 2009 Mon Sep 14 17:32:59 -0700 2009 3535380 0471238473 9780471238478 0 0 3.25 http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3535380.A_Mathematical_Mystery_Tour_Discovering_the_Truth_and_Beauty_of_the_Cosmos 0 0 false Mon Jul 27 14:33:04 -0700 2009 Mon Jul 27 14:33:04 -0700 2009 3535380 0471238473 9780471238478 0 0 3.25 http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3535380.A_Mathematical_Mystery_Tour_Discovering_the_Truth_and_Beauty_of_the_Cosmos 0 0 false Fri May 29 20:11:48 -0700 2009 Mon Jun 01 10:01:14 -0700 2009 126860 0471407348 9780471407348 4 1 3.25 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171924285m/126860.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/126860.A_Mathematical_Mystery_Tour_Discovering_the_Truth_and_Beauty_of_the_Cosmos 0 0 false Sat May 23 10:04:01 -0700 2009 Sat May 23 10:04:01 -0700 2009 126860 0471407348 9780471407348 4 1 3.25 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171924285m/126860.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/126860.A_Mathematical_Mystery_Tour_Discovering_the_Truth_and_Beauty_of_the_Cosmos 3 0 false Wed Mar 04 12:36:51 -0800 2009 Wed Mar 04 12:36:51 -0800 2009 126860 0471407348 9780471407348 4 1 3.25 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171924285m/126860.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/126860.A_Mathematical_Mystery_Tour_Discovering_the_Truth_and_Beauty_of_the_Cosmos 3 0 false Wed Mar 04 17:37:02 -0800 2009 Thu Feb 12 22:18:01 -0800 2009 Wed Mar 04 17:37:02 -0800 2009 126860 0471407348 9780471407348 4 1 3.25 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171924285m/126860.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/126860.A_Mathematical_Mystery_Tour_Discovering_the_Truth_and_Beauty_of_the_Cosmos 0 0 false Thu Nov 13 19:56:01 -0800 2008 Thu Nov 13 19:56:38 -0800 2008 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=126860